Drinking a cup of coffee after consuming alcohol will not help you avoid DUI charges. There are those who claim that the caffeine can help sober you up. However, this is a common myth that can sometimes get people in legal trouble because they believe that the coffee has reduced their blood alcohol concentration (BAC). In reality, they could still be over the legal limit if they get pulled over by the police.
There is a basis for this myth, which is that caffeine can help to wake you up. Many people who have been drinking alcohol, especially if they consume a significant amount, are feeling fatigued. The jolt of caffeine can make them feel awake and more aware of their surroundings, so they think that it has sobered them up. In reality, their BAC is at relatively the same level that it was before they drank a cup of coffee, so this would not prevent a DUI charge.
How do you actually reduce your BAC?
Coffee cannot reduce your BAC, and neither can drinking water, eating a meal, taking a cold shower or any of these other common myths. The only thing that really works is time. Your body metabolizes the alcohol you have consumed, and your BAC drops naturally.
This does take more time than many people realize. While there can be some differences from one individual to the next, the typical rate of decline is 0.015% per hour. If someone was trying to go from 0.06% all the way back down to zero, for instance, it would take four hours.
What are your legal options?
If you find yourself facing a DUI charge, you could lose your driver’s license and face financial fines, jail time and other such ramifications. It can help to work with an experienced attorney to explore all of your legal defense options.